Skip to content
The Encyclopedia of Horology

Demonstration model · La Chaux-de-Fonds

Great Planetarium

Verified

Painted by Charles Girardet with figures of the constellations and the signs of zodiac, the globe houses a mechanism activated by a crank handle.

Technical facts

Inventory number
MIH V-12
Object type
Demonstration model
Place of production
La Chaux-de-Fonds
Dating
1817
Materials and techniques (catalogue wording)
Laiton, Carton, Bois, Technique peinture
Dimensions (catalogue)
dimensions min/max: 1001 x 1200 mm; diam.: 120.00 mm

Historical significance

  • Painted by Charles Girardet with figures of the constellations and the signs of zodiac, the globe houses a mechanism activated by a crank handle.
  • The planetarium presents the solar system as it was known in the early 19th century. The sun is surrounded by the planets and their satellites: the Earth, the Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter with its four satellites, Saturn with its seven satellites and its ring and Uranus.

Photographs

Great Planetarium (MIH V-12)
Great Planetarium (MIH V-12) — Musée international d'horlogerie, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Museum collection photograph, rights review pending. MIH collection record

Photographs are illustrative examples of the type, not necessarily the exact object described. Verify details against the source file page.

Sources & references

  1. Musée international d'horlogerie, online collection record, inv. V-12: https://collection.mih.ch/fr/collection/item/36527/

Where sources disagree, the disagreement is stated rather than resolved silently.